Sorry, ’90s Kids: The Pulp Reunion is Probably Over

Sorry, ’90s Kids: The Pulp Reunion is Probably Over

Reunion tours are a mixed bag. At best, a band can recapture a glimmer of their original intensity and reshape a new ending to their narrative; at worst, they can completely embarrass themselves. The recently reformed Pulp probably leaned more toward the former, thanks to a string of hotly promoted, rabidly received reunion shows where Jarvis Cocker revealed he’d never lost a step for concert rock, and that songs like “Common People” still hit even for those of us forced to catch the performances via live stream. Alas, those reunion shows are probably all we’re about to see, rather than any rumored new music to capitalize on the resurgence of interest. The following quotes, gleaned from an interview with Q, seem pretty open and shut on whether there will be anything forthcoming from Cocker and company.

“No, it was a big enough challenge to learn how to play all the old songs and, hopefully, perform them in a convincing way. It also means you aren’t trying to flog anything to anyone – then you have to do interviews and convince people they have to go and but this new record as well! It was kinda nice not to have to do that.

“We haven’t got anything planned after the New Year… we’ll just be cruising off into the sunset. Seems poetic. Not wishing to make a big deal, but we’ve played for a while and it’s been really good, but you can’t keep doing that forever. Will you see Pulp again? Who knows. I’m not stoking those particular rumours.”

Of course, it’s easier to say that nothing is coming and to pleasantly surprise everyone in a few years with a track or two, rather than keep ginning up the drums for a payoff that never comes — or worse, comes and completely disappoints. For now, it’s probably best to take Cocker at face value.